Carving-fork



(ModeL) A. P. BANNIST ER.

UARVING FORK.

Patented Aug. 11, 1885.

N. PETERS, Pmwuma m Waahingtom n. c

Nrrn TATES ATENI F F IGEO CARVlNG-FORK.

CIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 324,071, dated August 11, 1885.

Application filed March 17, 1885. (ModeL) To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALFRED F. BANNISTER,

a citizen'of the United States, residing at thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to that class of carving-forks having a piece pivoted therein or thereon extending upward from the shank to act as a guard to protect the hand in carving, and downward to provide a rest or support to-keep the tines away from the table or tablecloth.

The object of the invention is to obviate certain objectionable features existing in devices heretofore in use, whereby they are more or less weakened and theirfinish marred. A further object is to reduce the cost of construction and facilitate the manufacture of the device.

The invention consists in the peculiar ar rangements and combinations of parts, substantially as will be hereinafter set forth, and finally embodied in the clause of the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of the figures, Figures 1 and 2 are side elevations, partly in section, of the improved fork, showing the two positions of the guard and rest, and Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the said guard and rest in detail.

In said drawings, a is the perforated shank of a carvingiork, and b a pivoted piece to work therein, so that certain projections thereof may be arranged longitudinally along said shank, as in Fig. 1, or at right angles thereto, as in Fig. 2, being held in both positions by a spring. At the center the said piece is disklike, to work in the perforation of the shank and present a broad surface to the sides of the said perforation, and thus prevent any lateral play. The said disk is perforated to receive the pivotal pin g which holds said disk in place. From the periphery of the disk afinger, d, to guard the hand from injury in the carving process, and from the opposite edges of the said disk resting or supporting forks c, extend or project either radially or longitudinally in opposite directions. At a point midway between said finger and forks, in the edge of the disk, is formed a recess or bore, into which is arranged, first, a spring, f, and next a sliding plunger, 6, which also projects radially from the center of the disk to engage a bearing extending from the top to the bottom of the shank at the head or end of the perforation, said bearing being comparatively straight to allow the plunger to slide freely thereon when the fork and guard are turned. The opposite end of the perforation acts as a stop to co-operate with the plunger in holding the pivotal piece at approximately right angles to the shank.

I am aware that heretofore shanks have been recessed or bored out in different ways to receive a springactuated plunger which bore against the pivotal center of the guard and rest, and I do not wish herein to be understood as elaiming such a construction.

In my improvements the chamber for the spring is formed in the disk to move therewith, while the shank of the fork, which takes all the strain in holding the meat in carving, is not weakened by said chambers or borings, nor is the appearance of the outer or exposed surfaces marred by seams, joints, or screwheads or protruding portions of the pivotal piece, which tend to accumulate dirt and grease and interfere with a proper polishing or cleaning of the fork. Again, in prior devices of the character referred to, in addition to the cost and trouble ofboring out the chamber for the spring and plunger, it was necessary to bore outa second cavity to receive the end of the plunger and hold the parts in a fixed relation.

In the improved device the rotating plunger engages the straight, or if curved, eccentric end surface of the perforation, which co-operates with the opposite end surface or stop to hold the pivotal piece in position without employing the said second cavities.

What I claim as new is- 4 The improved carving-fork, consisting, essentially, of a fork having a perforation in the shank with a straight or approximately 1 bearing to hold the pivotal piece in position, 10

straight bearing and stop at the opposite ends substantially as and for the purposes set forth. thereof, a disk pivoted in said perforation In testimony that I claim the foregoing I having a guard and supports extending have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of therefrom and a radial chamber formed there- March, 1885.

in, a spring-actuated plunger arranged in said ALFRED F. BANNISTER. radial chamber and rotating with said disk I lVitnesses:

and pressing against said straight bearing, OLIVER DRAKE, said plunger cooperating with the stop and CHARLES H. PEEL. 

